MetaFilter posts tagged with keyboardhttp://www.metafilter.com/tags/keyboard
Posts tagged with 'keyboard' at MetaFilter.Thu, 25 Dec 2014 15:03:57 -0800Thu, 25 Dec 2014 15:03:57 -0800en-ushttp://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss60A recipe for an Icelandic songhttp://www.metafilter.com/145624/A%2Drecipe%2Dfor%2Dan%2DIcelandic%2Dsong
Take <a href="https://vimeo.com/112794442">one part saw (1:15 in)</a>. Add <a href="https://vimeo.com/112797227">one part glockenspiel</a> and <a href="https://vimeo.com/112794443">one part fi&#0240;la</a>. Then, a <a href="https://vimeo.com/112794444">dash of harmonium</a> and some <a href="https://vimeo.com/112797225">drum brushes</a>. Accentuate with a <a href="https://vimeo.com/112794446">cello</a>, then <a href="https://vimeo.com/112797228">layer with keyboards</a>. Finally, add some <a href="https://vimeo.com/112794445">piano</a> and ensure there are <a href="https://vimeo.com/112797226">two parts harp</a>. Very carefully blend and Gle&#0240;ileg j&#0243;l! Amiina (<a href="http://www.metafilter.com/143997/Of-bells-harps-accordions-the-kalimba-and-a-saw-amiina">previously</a>) have <a href="https://vimeo.com/115304848">baka&#0240;ar you a song</a>. tag:metafilter.com,2014:site.145624Thu, 25 Dec 2014 15:03:57 -0800WordshoreOf bells, harps, accordions, the kalimba and a saw: amiinahttp://www.metafilter.com/143997/Of%2Dbells%2Dharps%2Daccordions%2Dthe%2Dkalimba%2Dand%2Da%2Dsaw%2Damiina
If you've encountered <a href="http://vimeo.com/36206011">delicately uplifting chimes and bells</a> or a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdgRQOteH1w">singing saw</a>, seen the <a href="http://youtu.be/8LeQN249Jqw">contributions</a> of a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sUVm77WjE0">string quartet</a> in a Sigur R&#0243;s video, heard the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THT-ribn9VY">last recording by Lee Hazlewood</a> and noticed the gentle singing and music, or listened to <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_B8F-o4PdP8">Yukihiro Takahashi consider words</a>, then you've possibly encountered the Icelandic band amiina. <small>(Personal choice of tracks indicated by <strong>*</strong>)</small>
<a href="http://amiina.com/">amiina</a> (lowercase 'a' to lead) formed in the late 1990s when Hildur &#0193;rs&#0230;lsd&#0243;ttir and Maria Huld Markan Sigf&#0250;sd&#0243;ttir (violinists), Edda R&#0250;n &#0211;lafsd&#0243;ttir (violist) and S&#0243;lr&#0250;n Sumarli&#0240;ad&#0243;ttir (cellist) began playing classical music together at the Reykjav&#0237;k College of Music. Their shared interest in making music spread to using other instruments, then tools, appliances and whatever else was at hand.
In 2004 the group, initially performing and recording under the name Am&#0237;na, released Animamina:
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7jG7Xndkw0">Skakka</a><strong>*</strong>
<a href="http://vimeo.com/17412605">Hemipode</a>
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MRjTwjwGtg">Fjarskanistan</a>
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSZWTjbKcv4">Bl&#0225;skj&#0225;r</a>
In 2006, the single <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UOdY_uPQoU">Seoul</a> - which became a favorite at live events - was released. This also contained the track <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4i4PwutT5g">Amm&#0230;lis</a><strong>*</strong>.
Amiina have been long-time collaborators with Sigur R&#0243;s, playing on many of their tracks and in live performance such as in the documentary/album Heima. Collaborations include:
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1cqn3UDmp4">Samskeyti</a>
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5U2zFQxbVa0">Hopp&#0237;polla/Me&#0240; Bl&#0243;&#0240;nasir</a><strong>*</strong>
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hme5jf2Z_ow">Von</a>
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LiJzw_m7Xas">Gitardjamm</a>
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZVw6rHw5jQ">Popplagi&#0240;</a><strong>*</strong> (loud)
Instruments played by amiina include the <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/turgidson/1809514575">saw</a>, <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/marzienne/2197367555">harps</a>, <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/remediosandme/5059195761">accordions</a>, <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/olafur/5724622356">glockenspiel</a>, the <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/olafur/5724079013">kalimba</a> and <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/rooreynolds/1672016477">glasses of water</a>.
In 2007, Amiina released their first full-length album, Kurr, named after the sound that birds are said to make in Iceland:
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KACOC-3vMw">Sogg</a><strong>*</strong>
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hWcvsLKuWg">Rugla</a><strong>*</strong>
<a href="http://vimeo.com/86946625">Gl&#0225;mur</a>
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39novn5B0-E">Seoul</a>
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=so3ame0kFa8">L&#0250;p&#0237;na</a>
<a href="http://vimeo.com/2362765">Hilli</a>
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_XiD98Pqns">Sexfaldur</a><strong>*</strong>
<a href="http://vimeo.com/55520999">Kolapot</a>
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94eXzfHEHRU">Saga</a>
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8orIGkFO7KM">L&#0243;ri</a>
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCp4_Sye-Jc">Bl&#0225;feldur</a>
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SO0IP2l5iqU">Boga</a>
An <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_Y3cTmw5aM">interview</a> with the band, and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4hNaYEN_Ug">another one</a>. In 2008, Amiina provided <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HV9ojJKAbfQ">Doctor Finkelstein/In the Forest</a> for Nightmare Revisited, a cover album of songs from the 1993 film <em>The Nightmare Before Christmas</em>.
Several more singles followed, and amiina expanded to include Magn&#0250;s Trygvason Eliassen and Gu&#0240;mundur Vignir Karlsson (aka Kippi Kaninus). Also in 2009, Re Minore, consisting of the tracks &#0193;sinn, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=likHSN5y1i4">&#0222;risturinn</a> and Tvisturinn, was released. These would all appear in some form or other on their next full-length album, Puzzle (2010):
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_I1beIzltBg">&#0193;sinn</a><strong>*</strong>
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WN3LMjD0wDk">Over &amp; Again</a><strong>*</strong>
<a href="http://youtu.be/OVL-UmI4QCU">What are we waiting for?</a>
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_B_dxouy76A">P&#0250;sl</a>
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmriY5a0MnM">In the Sun</a><strong>*</strong>
<a href="http://vimeo.com/20361705">Mamb&#0243;</a><strong>*</strong>
<a href="http://vimeo.com/23272516">Sicsak</a> - live, and the <a href="http://vimeo.com/23291521">making of</a> this video.
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSf74DQqpqo">Thoka</a>
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XiwIczK_Jvk">Nebula</a>
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqLkZN_tJCk">Blauwber</a><strong>*</strong>
Amiina played many venues and <a href="http://vimeo.com/56204036">concerts</a>, of differing sizes, around the world, including:
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hn1uV0wmTto">University of Pennsylvania, 2006</a>
Full concert at <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QV6vdJVCpLk">Traumzeit</a>
At the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7BmT8FSYkQ">Festival of World Cultures</a><strong>*</strong>
<a href="http://vimeo.com/19475171">Reykjavik, 2007</a>
Live soundtrack to <a href="http://vimeo.com/31576316">Lotte Reiniger's Cinderella</a>, London, 2009
And again, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmTnpxOfgrs">London, 2010</a>
In Iceland, some performances took place in <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0zW9QqUMDk">concert halls</a>, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWkf1VbjUd0">churches</a>, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldPL13v1PkM">bookstores</a>, and into the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBTz60l6Wx4">more remote parts of Iceland</a>, at abandoned buildings and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_0dwdOa5U4">lighthouses</a>. A few of the recordings from their homeland events formed their 2013 release, The Lighthouse Project:
<a href="http://vimeo.com/62697830">Perth</a><strong>*</strong>
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4U24hAbkOR0">Hilli</a>
<a href="http://vimeo.com/80715741">B&#0237;&#0243;lagi&#0240;</a><strong>*</strong>
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqWdRVvCJz4">Leather and Lace</a> (Original by Lee Hazlewood)
<a href="http://vimeo.com/62069665">Kola</a>
N65&#0176; 16,21 W13&#0176; 34,49
While the band members sometimes do their own thing, such as S&#0243;lr&#0250;n Sumarli&#0240;ad&#0243;ttir's Sk&#0253;jafl&#0233;tta, her 2013 <a href="http://icelandreview.com/stuff/views/2013/10/27/skyjafletta-eh">album for children and their adults</a>:
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3Z5K8cccKQ">Vor (Spring)</a>
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CV271P3QbJk">Hoppa (Jump)</a>
...they still continue to play in big concerts and <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hans_vera/5393708055">small shops</a>, make <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5N_GGqYlYrM">soundtracks to film</a> and <a href="http://amiina.com/concerts">tour</a>.
<a href="http://vimeo.com/81490558">In rehearsal</a>
<a href="http://vimeo.com/81313317">Music by Praetorius</a>
<a href="http://vimeo.com/81321017">Adeste Fideles (O Come, All Ye Faithful)</a><strong>*</strong>
(With many others) Short clip from <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SojlGooqtM0">Odin's Raven Magic</a><strong>*</strong> tag:metafilter.com,2014:site.143997Tue, 28 Oct 2014 14:41:29 -0800Wordshoreclickety clackhttp://www.metafilter.com/143386/clickety%2Dclack
<a href="http://www.theverge.com/2014/10/7/6882427/king-of-keys">King of click: the story of the greatest keyboard ever made</a> tag:metafilter.com,2014:site.143386Tue, 07 Oct 2014 10:24:11 -0800Combustible Edison LighthouseA look back at the funky, psychedelic, soulful 70s in Nigeriahttp://www.metafilter.com/142025/A%2Dlook%2Dback%2Dat%2Dthe%2Dfunky%2Dpsychedelic%2Dsoulful%2D70s%2Din%2DNigeria
<em></em>According to the <em><a href="http://www.discogs.com/Various-Daptone-Gold/master/219324">Daptone Gold</a></em> compilation <a href="http://www.promotionscrew.us/daptone/ecard/">liner notes</a> (auto-playing music, click on "Biography"to read the notes), written by <a href="http://pitchfork.com/staff/douglas-wolk/">Pitchfork contributor Douglas Wolk</a>, "the world capital of soul" has moved from the US ("between Memphis and Detroit, with occasional stopovers in New Orleans, Cincinnati and elsewhere") in the 1960, to Lagos in the 1970s, then it went into hiding, finally reappearing in Brooklyn, with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daptone_Records">Daptone Records</a>. Let's go back - why Lagos in the 1970s? <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigeria#Independence_.281960.29">On 1 October 1960, Nigeria gained its independence from the United Kingdom</a>, though it not be until <a href="http://countrystudies.us/nigeria/68.htm">three years later that the First Nigerian Republic was formed</a>, truly marking the country's independence. This was followed by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigerian_Civil_War">the Nigerian Civil War, also known as the Biafran War</a>, which lasted from 6 July 1967 to 15 January 1970, as an ethnic and political conflict caused by the attempted secession of the southeastern provinces of Nigeria as the self-proclaimed Republic of Biafra. And then oil was discovered.
Though oil in commercial quantity was discovered in the mid-1950s, <a href="http://www.onlinenigeria.com/economics/?blurb=490">the real oil boom came from the Arab oil embargo on the USA in 1973</a>, and there was a significant rural-to-urban migration as people attempted to capitalize on the oil boom. <a href="http://countrystudies.us/nigeria/48.htm">During the 1970s Nigeria had possibly the fastest urbanization growth rate in the world.</a> Unfortunately, by the 1980s, the Nigerian economy fell victim to a strain of what economists call Dutch Disease, a precipitous decline following a windfall boom from exploiting a natural resource, <a href="http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/52611/gail-m-gerhart/oil-and-socioeconomic-crisis-in-nigeria-a-regional-perspective-t">brought on not by tulips but by oil</a>.
But at its peak, Nigerian culture bloomed, as <a href="http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=929290">visually captured in some of these images of Lagos in the early 1970s</a>, and throughout the <a href="http://nigerianostalgia.tumblr.com/">Nigeria Nostalgia tumblr</a>. <a href="http://emeksmusic.blogspot.com/2010/11/record-companies-in-nigeria.html">Music companies came to Nigeria after the Civil War</a>, hoping to capture some of the highlife sound from the region, as well as Fela Kuti's afrobeat style that was popular not only in Nigeria, but also elsewhere in Africa, Europe and North America.
<a href="http://sounds.bl.uk/World-and-traditional-music/Decca-West-African-recordings">Decca was the first Western label to really capture West Africa</a> with the <a href="http://www.discogs.com/label/216527-Decca-West-Africa-Limited">Decca West Africa Limited label</a>, and though they were focused on Ghana, Nigeria was by no means ignored. But after 1970, there was a music label boom, with EMI Records (<a href="http://www.discogs.com/label/327821-EMI-Nigeria-Ltd">Discogs label listings one</a> and <a href="http://www.discogs.com/label/327814-EMI-Nigeria-Ltd">two</a>) and <a href="http://www.discogs.com/label/318628-Polygram-Records-Ltd-Nigeria">Polygram Records</a> setting up pressing plants in Lagos to capture the local scene for wider distribution. And there were numerous local labels: <a href="http://www.discogs.com/label/121401-Tabansi">Tabansi</a>, <a href="http://www.discogs.com/label/151524-RAS-Rogers-All-Stars-Nigeria-Ltd">RAS (Rogers All-Stars)</a>, and <a href="http://www.discogs.com/label/136407-Olumo-Records">Olumo Records</a>, to name a few.
<a href="http://fromthebarrelhouse.com/2011/05/23/nigeria%E2%80%99s-psychedelic-explosion-1971-1976-ginger-baker-in-africa/">Ginger Baker (formerly of Cream) found his way to Lagos, where he came at just the right time to be a player in a larger scene</a>, setting up the first 16 track recording studio and tried to get ex-Beatle Paul McCartney to record at his own studio when he arrived in Lagos with Wings. But McCartney ended up recording ‘Band on The Run’ in Nigeria’s EMI studio. After that, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Live!_(Fela_Kuti_album)">Baker got involved with Fela Kuti and Africa 70</a>, learning local percussion from such masters as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Allen_(musician)">Tony Allen</a>.
In the early 2000s, crate diggers discovered the vast amount of wealth in Africa's recent musical past, as detailed in <em><a href="http://pitchfork.com/features/articles/6007-africa-100-the-indestructible-beat/">Africa 100: The Indestructible Beat</a></em>, an article by Joe Tangari. A number of compilations have been released that highlight Nigeria and Lagos specifically, including:
<ul><li>German collector Frank Gossner has shared some of his finds through his <a href="http://voodoofunk.blogspot.com/">Voodoo Funk blog</a> (<a href="http://www.metafilter.com/65639/Voodoo-Funk-11-African-funk-mp3-mixes">previously</a>), the <a href="http://www.discogs.com/Various-Lagos-Disco-Inferno/master/253391">Lagos Disco Inferno</a> compilations, and the New York-based <a href="http://www.discogs.com/label/145112-Academy-LPs">Academy LPs re-issue label</a>
<li>Soundway has put together a number of compilations from 1970s Nigerian scenes, including: <em><a href="http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-world-ends-afro-rock-psychedelia-in-1970s-nigeria-mw0002008563">The World Ends: Afro Rock &amp; Psychedelia in 1970s Nigeria</a></em>, and <em><a href="http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/11694-nigeria-disco-funk-special-nigeria-rock-special/">Nigeria Disco Funk Special</a></em>, and has even reissued full albums, including <a href="http://thinkafricapress.com/nigeria/review-hungry-man-keyboard"><em>Hungry Man</em> by Keyboard</a> (see also: <a href="http://www.parisdjs.com/index.php/post/The-influence-of-Soundway-Records-on-the-Afro-revival-and-diggin-scene">The influence of Soundway Records on the Afro revival &amp; diggin' scene</a>, and <a href="http://www.wonderingsound.com/spotlight/2008-innovators-miles-cleret/">a Q&amp;A with Soundway's Miles Cleret</a>, who talks about starting Soundway with Ghanan music, then finding that Nigeria " held a lot more secrets than smaller African music industries")
<li>Similarly, Strut has covered various scenes from that time, under the "Nigeria 70" header, with <em><a href="http://www.musthear.com/music/reviews/various-artists/nigeria-70-the-definitive-story-of-1970s-funky-lagos/">The Definitive Story of 1970s Funky Lagos</a></em> (<a href="http://ejazznews.com/?p=8555">possibly a misnomer, as not all artists are from Lagos</a>, and the compilation doesn't include any <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Nico_Mbarga">Prince Nico Mbarga</a>, "a most unforgivable fault"), <a href="http://www.dustedmagazine.com/reviews/4290"><em>Lagos Jump</em></a>and <em><a href="http://www.allmusic.com/album/nigeria-70-sweet-times-afro-funk-highlife-and-juju-from-1970s-lagos-mw0002132233">Sweet Times (Afro Funk, Highlife and Juju from 1970s Lagos)</a></em>
<li>Going back to the source, EMI released some now sought-after compilations: <em><a href="http://www.discogs.com/Various-EMI-Super-Hits-Vol2/release/1425217">EMI Super Hits Vol.2</a></em> (1982) and <em><a href="http://www.discogs.com/Various-EMI-Super-Hits/release/1567540">EMI Super Hits</a></em> (1983?)</li></li></li></li></ul>
You might <a href="http://www.metafilter.com/136480/I-beg-ee-oh-make-you-hear-me-well">already know</a> that <a href="http://felakuti.bandcamp.com/">a <em>ton</em> of Fela Kuti's music is on Bandcamp</a>, and you might have <a href="http://www.metafilter.com/87357/The-Ultimate-Dr-Sir-Warrior">previously caught the Highlife sounds</a> of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xBm3Fz54cM&list=RD_xBm3Fz54cM#t=2">Dr. Sir Warrior and the Oriental Brothers International Band</a> (YouTube auto-playlist), but did you know <a href="http://soundwayrecords.bandcamp.com/music">Soundway Records is on Bandcamp</a>, meaning you can stream so much soulful, funky, goodness that you might not sleep for days? We'll, consider yourself warned. You can get a hold of so much of the Strut back catalog so easily, but <a href="https://soundcloud.com/strut">there's their Soundcloud page</a>, and you can find partial (compilations) on Grooveshark: <a href="http://grooveshark.com/#!/album/Nigeria+70+Disc+1/7537854">Nigeria 70 Discc 1</a>, some of <a href="http://grooveshark.com/#!/album/Nigeria+70+The+Definitive+Story+Of+The+1970s+Funky+Lagos+Cd2/8312031">Disc 2</a>, <a href="http://grooveshark.com/#!/album/Nigeria+70+Lagos+Jump+Original+Heavyweight+Afrobeat+Highlife+and+Afro+Funk/6665544">Lagos Jump</a> and <a href="http://grooveshark.com/#!/album/Nigeria+70+Sweet+Times+Afro+Funk+Highlife+and+Juju+From+1970s+Lagos/7446702">Sweet Times</a>.
If you don't know who or what to look for, here's <a href="http://www.worldmusic.net/guide/music-of-nigeria/">a guide to the music and musicians of Nigeria</a>, as well as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_of_Nigeria">the Wikipedia page on the music of Nigeria</a>.
All this musical nostalgia is not to say that Peak Nigeria was in the 1970s. <a href="http://www.nigeriafilms.com/gender.asp?ContentTypeID=3">Nigeria Films has a section devoted to Nigerian music</a>, and <a href="http://www.pmnewsnigeria.com/entertainment/music/nigerian-music/">P.M. News has a less information-dense section devoted to musical news from Nigeria</a>. <a href="http://face2faceafrica.com/article/notes-on-the-new-nigerian-music-scene">Face2Face Africa has an article, "Notes on the New Nigerian Music Scene,"</a>, and <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/mar/13/nigeria-music-naeto-c-asa">The Guardian covered "The Rise of Nigerian pop music."</a> You might have even heard a bit about <a href="http://www.npr.org/2014/08/03/337531255/the-latest-stop-on-jazz-singer-somis-journey">jazz artist and singer Somi, who spent 18 months in Nigeria</a>, to record her latest album, <em><a href="http://www.okeh-records.com/2014/05/02/the-lagos-music-salon-somi-releases-okeh-album-debut-inspired-by-a-journey-to-lagos-nigeria-on-may-26-2014-single-last-song-available-on-itunes-now/">The Lagos Music Salon</a></em> (more info, plus streaming album sampler).
With that, I'll let you get to digging - there's a lot more out there to discover, even if your only tools are your fingers and a computer. tag:metafilter.com,2014:site.142025Mon, 18 Aug 2014 21:00:45 -0800filthy light thiefBlooooop bleeee blooop blop! These are the sounds of enrichment.http://www.metafilter.com/139499/Blooooop%2Dbleeee%2Dblooop%2Dblop%2DThese%2Dare%2Dthe%2Dsounds%2Dof%2Denrichment
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsRlO4dQJGI">A bunch of otters jam on a Casio.</a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gddXYuRKccM">An orangutan plays a xylophone with a banana.</a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGEdaQ1E8SM">A sloth bear toots some harmonica.</a> These are all a part of the National Zoo's <a href="http://nationalzoo.si.edu/SCBI/AnimalEnrichment/">environmental enrichment</a> efforts, not unlike getting your cat some food balls and cat shelves. Also, here's a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcLCjqhiOkk">fishing kitten training up its skills in a kiddie pool</a>. tag:metafilter.com,2014:site.139499Fri, 30 May 2014 05:31:22 -0800ignignoktPatatap!http://www.metafilter.com/137770/Patatap
<a href="http://www.patatap.com/">Patatap</a> might be the most fun you can have mashing a keyboard. tag:metafilter.com,2014:site.137770Wed, 26 Mar 2014 07:44:54 -0800oulipianIterating on the keyboardhttp://www.metafilter.com/134701/Iterating%2Don%2Dthe%2Dkeyboard
<a href="http://blog.fsck.com/">Jesse Vincent</a> has <a href="http://blog.fsck.com/2012/07/computing-environment-late-summer-2012-edition.html">spent</a> <a href="http://blog.fsck.com/2012/12/keyboards.html">some</a> <a href="http://blog.fsck.com/2012/12/building-a-keyboard-part-1.html">time</a> <a href="http://blog.fsck.com/2012/12/building-a-keyboard-part-2.html">thinking</a> <a href="http://blog.fsck.com/2013/01/a-pound-of-sculpey.html">about</a>, <a href="http://blog.fsck.com/2013/01/pinkies-and-your-brain.html">designing</a>, and <a href="http://blog.fsck.com/2013/04/mark-2-keyboard.html">building</a> <a href="http://blog.fsck.com/2013/12/better-and-better-keyboards.html">keyboards</a>. tag:metafilter.com,2013:site.134701Thu, 12 Dec 2013 06:05:31 -0800JpfedStudy gives new meaning to ‘let your fingers do the walking’http://www.metafilter.com/134488/Study%2Dgives%2Dnew%2Dmeaning%2Dto%2Dlet%2Dyour%2Dfingers%2Ddo%2Dthe%2Dwalking
<a href="http://news.vanderbilt.edu/2013/12/automatic-typing/">When you are typing away at your computer, you [apparently] don’t know what your fingers are really doing.</a> Here are some online resources to help your fingers <strong>better</strong> learn how to not know what they are doing.
<a href="http://www.typeonline.co.uk/lesson1.html">~</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;2&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;3&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;4&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="http://www.speedtypingonline.com/typing-test">5</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;6&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;7&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;8&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;9&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;0&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;-&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;+&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/typingweb-typing-tutor/clcgempicojkfhpnepfecmklndooebjk?hl=en">BACK</a>
TAB&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ratatype.com/">Q</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;W&nbsp;&nbsp;E&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;R&nbsp;&nbsp;T&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Y&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;U&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="http://www.typingarena.com/">I</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;O&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;P&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;{&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;}&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;|
CAPS&nbsp;&nbsp;A&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;S&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/advance-typing-tutor/fgjdkpcfnpcofkikgdldjfjhmchdoage?hl=en">D</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;F&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;G&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="http://www.how-to-type.com/">H</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;J&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;K&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;L&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="http://www.typingweb.com/tutor/">ENTER</a>
<a href="https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/typingclub/obdbgibnhfcjmmpfijkpcihjieedpfah?hl=en">SHIFT</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Z&nbsp;&nbsp;X&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;C&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;V&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;B&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;N&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;M&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;,&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; .&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;?&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;SHIFT
CTRL&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;ALT&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="http://10fastfingers.com/typing-test/english">SPACE</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;ALT&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="http://www.typingclub.com/">CTRL</a> tag:metafilter.com,2013:site.134488Thu, 05 Dec 2013 14:00:29 -0800SpacemanStixLong live the granny squarehttp://www.metafilter.com/130723/Long%2Dlive%2Dthe%2Dgranny%2Dsquare
Guy Whitby, an Aussie artist also known as <a href="http://workbyknight.deviantart.com/">WorkByKnight</a> (WBK), creates mixed media pixelated art, such as <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/09/14/guy-whitby-portraits_n_1883113.html">portraits using keyboard keys</a>, and <a href="http://www.behance.net/gallery/Women-in-Colour/7434023">portraits</a> and <a href="http://www.behance.net/gallery/WBK-The-Granny-Square/4758373">famous works of art</a> using crochet <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=granny+square&client=firefox-a&hs=5B7&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=8GcCUumnHcfuyQHj6YHICg&ved=0CDgQsAQ&biw=1026&bih=993">granny squares</a>. tag:metafilter.com,2013:site.130723Wed, 07 Aug 2013 08:30:27 -0800donajoWill it go 'round in circles...http://www.metafilter.com/127358/Will%2Dit%2Dgo%2Dround%2Din%2Dcircles
It's not so often that a new acoustic musical instrument is invented that really makes you go "wow!", but <a href="http://antiquitymusic.com/wheelharp/">the Wheelharp</a> might just make you go "double wow!" In addition to the embedded Vimeo clip at the site, there are four audio samples further down the page that are quite lovely. Oh, and may I recommend the 5-octave model? A <em>steal</em> at only $11,900! tag:metafilter.com,2013:site.127358Wed, 24 Apr 2013 23:48:24 -0800flapjax at midnite"I never doubted that it was all going to work out."http://www.metafilter.com/125653/I%2Dnever%2Ddoubted%2Dthat%2Dit%2Dwas%2Dall%2Dgoing%2Dto%2Dwork%2Dout
<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/03/nyregion/40-years-after-an-acid-attack-a-life-well-lived.html?pagewanted=all&amp;_r=0">A life well lived.</a> On October 4, 1973, Josh Miele (4) was permanently blinded in an acid attack <a href="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/packages/pdf/nyregion/miele-sept1975.pdf?ref=nyregion">by his neighbor</a> <small>(pdf)</small>. 40 years later, Dr. Miele has worked for NASA on the Mars Rover project, he's helped develop "<a href="http://www.naric.com/?q=en/content/wearabraille-virtual-wireless-braille-keyboard-iphone-and-voiceover">WearaBraille</a>", a virtual Braille keyboard interface, and has a new project launching this month: the <a href="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/fr/fr31/4/fr310412.htm">Descriptive Video Exchange (DVX)</a>, which will allow "<a href="http://code.google.com/p/sk-dvx/">sighted video viewers to seamlessly add audio description to DVDs as they watch.</a>" <i><blockquote>"<a href="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/fr/fr31/4/fr310412.htm">...the Descriptive Video Exchange ... is a tool we have developed at Smith-Kettlewell that gives anybody, anywhere, the ability to describe anything, so that anybody, anywhere else, can hear the description.</a> This technology uses a web-based server to store and maintain all of the descriptions associated with videos available on the web, on DVD, or from streamed sources such as Netflix. The server does not store the videos. The server only stores the descriptions, along with the identification and timing information. The server works with a video player that plays whatever video you want to watch, along with the stored descriptions.
This system gets around a couple of interesting problems. For example, many videos simply are not described. There is no way to get a described version because it doesn't exist. That's one problem. With this system, anybody anywhere can volunteer to describe that video from their own home and upload the information. Then you, somewhere else, can take advantage of that description and play it back in synchronization with the video that you want to watch.
This system does a sort of end run around a number of the issues related to modifying and distributing copyrighted materials. In today's model for video description, it's necessary to record a described version of a film or TV show and redistribute that version. To do that, it's necessary to get permissions. All sorts of legal and financial issues are involved. Our system does not modify or redistribute anybody's copyrighted material. It simply plays the descriptions along with the material from a legitimate source. That means it becomes much simpler to create descriptions."</blockquote></i>
A<a href="http://ncamftp.wgbh.org/lionking/lionking_hi.mov"> sample of a DVX video</a> <small>(mov file)</small>, using The Lion King.
WearaBraille:
* <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fn-abyQu8wc">Video Demo</a>
* <a href="http://www.stanford.edu/class/engr110/2010/Edwards-03b.pdf">Technical Specs</a> <small>(pdf)</small>
Related article:
Seattle Revolution: <a href="http://www.seattlerevolution.com/2013/03/03/descriptive-video-exchange-from-your-eyes-to-their-ears/">From Your Eyes and Mouth To Their Ears</a> tag:metafilter.com,2013:site.125653Tue, 05 Mar 2013 09:09:47 -0800zarqThe Typewriter at the Gates of Dawnhttp://www.metafilter.com/122034/The%2DTypewriter%2Dat%2Dthe%2DGates%2Dof%2DDawn
The BBC reports that the <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-20391538">last typewriter to be built in the UK</a> (according to its manufacturers) has been donated to London's Science Museum. "Brother said it had stopped making typewriters because demand had fallen to 30 a day, with most of those being sold in the US." From less than five years ago, <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7427237.stm">another BBC news story</a>: "The Japanese multinational Brother sold 12,000 electronic typewriters last year in the UK..."
The first typewriter was patented (but not commercially manufactured) <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Mill">in 1714</a>. Though <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Typewriter#Early_innovations">many other mechanical typing devices</a> were invented thereafter, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sholes_and_Glidden_typewriter">Sholes and Glidden typewriter</a> (developed between 1866 and 1874) was the first commercially successful model, and the one which gave us the world 'typewriter'.
Though in decline, the typewriter industry is not - <a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2011/04/last-typewriter-factory-in-the-world-shuts-its-doors/237838/#comment-192174866">contrary to recent reports</a> - completely over. As recently as last year, one manufacturer was producing <a href="http://www.minyanville.com/mvpremium/2011/04/25/contrary-to-reports-typewriter-industry/">machines for the US prison system</a>. New Brother typewriters are still for sale on Amazon. And Mom and Pop and independent stores, from <a href="http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20121111/NEWS/211110321">Oregon</a> to <a href="http://cambridgetypewriter.blogspot.co.uk/">Massachusetts</a>, are still around.
The <a href="http://www.flickr.com/groups/27475260@N00/pool/">Flickr Writing Machines group</a> contains many pictures of typewriters. tag:metafilter.com,2012:site.122034Tue, 20 Nov 2012 00:25:16 -0800WordshoreAndras Schiff's Bach-apaloozahttp://www.metafilter.com/121258/Andras%2DSchiffs%2DBachapalooza
<em>[Andras] Schiff, 58, has lately been giving a lot of thought to each of the musical keys and the colors he associates with them as he embarks on <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/26/arts/music/andras-schiffs-bach-tour-comes-to-92nd-street-y.html?pagewanted=all">the Bach Project</a>, a large-scale tour of North America over the next year that will include all that composer’s major keyboard works, played from memory.</em> You can wet your beak with <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoMZTzhlPmc">this</a> performance of the Capriccio in B-flat.
You can also listen to his charming lectures on the Beethoven piano sonatas <a href="http://music.guardian.co.uk/classical/page/0,,1943867,00.html">here</a>. tag:metafilter.com,2012:site.121258Thu, 25 Oct 2012 11:27:02 -0800Egg ShenThank you, Mr. Bemerhttp://www.metafilter.com/120629/Thank%2Dyou%2DMr%2DBemer
The <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/07/magazine/who-made-that-escape-key.html" title="NYT article on the history">Esc key</a> was born in 1960, when an I.B.M. programmer named Bob Bemer was trying to solve a Tower of Babel problem: computers from different manufacturers communicated in a variety of codes. Bemer invented the <a href="http://youtu.be/cWRIR39N8WA?t=1m24s" title="Escape">ESC</a> key as way for programmers to switch from one kind of code to another. tag:metafilter.com,2012:site.120629Sat, 06 Oct 2012 16:43:28 -0800TangerineGurlEngelbart's Violinhttp://www.metafilter.com/116243/Engelbarts%2DViolin
A detailed history, explanation, and defense of the <a href="http://www.loper-os.org/?p=861">chorded keyboard</a>. tag:metafilter.com,2012:site.116243Wed, 23 May 2012 20:56:17 -0800gilrainIs that a keyboard in your pants or just another old joke?http://www.metafilter.com/112950/Is%2Dthat%2Da%2Dkeyboard%2Din%2Dyour%2Dpants%2Dor%2Djust%2Danother%2Dold%2Djoke
Taking the idea of a 'laptop computer' to its logical-but-absurd extreme, a pair of Dutch designer dorks have come up with <a href="http://www.webpronews.com/exclusive-keyboard-pants-so-you-can-dance-and-still-type-browse-etc-2012-02">a pair of jeans with a built-in wireless computer keyboard</a>. Enjoy. tag:metafilter.com,2012:site.112950Sat, 18 Feb 2012 13:21:35 -0800oneswellfoopBlind Piano Prodigyhttp://www.metafilter.com/112603/Blind%2DPiano%2DProdigy
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrXuvkj5Vi0">Rachel Flowers</a> plays some of rock's <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-eB9q32Yxw">toughest compositions</a> on <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdJ2KW6FLKY">keyboard</a>. Oh, and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-QZTCChNx0">jazz</a> and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0BpAhtqp8o">classics</a> too. Impressive, for an eighteen-year-old. Who <a href="http://bvi.growingstrong.org/rachel.html">is blind</a>. tag:metafilter.com,2012:site.112603Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:50:56 -0800DoohickieSteinway &amp; Sonshttp://www.metafilter.com/109071/Steinway%2Dand%2DSons
<a href="http://notebynotethemovie.com/"><em>Note by Note: The Making of Steinway L1037</em></a>, a documentary by Ben Niles. <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/ref/nyregion/PIANO_INDEX.html">"Invention for 900 Hands"</a>, a nine-part series in The New York Times. <a href="http://www.sherwinbeach.com/lenehan/K2571.htm">"K 2571: The Making of a Steinway Grand"</a>, an article in The Atlantic Monthly. What a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steinway_%26_Sons">Steinway</a> looks like on the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENFzd2KvJEg">inside</a> when played by <a href="http://www.metafilter.com/70900/Glenn-Goulds-chair">Glenn Gould</a>. tag:metafilter.com,2011:site.109071Wed, 02 Nov 2011 19:38:41 -0800Trurl"The fingers you have used to TYPE are too fat. To obtain a special TYPING wand, please mash the keypad with your palm now."http://www.metafilter.com/105917/The%2Dfingers%2Dyou%2Dhave%2Dused%2Dto%2DTYPE%2Dare%2Dtoo%2Dfat%2DTo%2Dobtain%2Da%2Dspecial%2DTYPING%2Dwand%2Dplease%2Dmash%2Dthe%2Dkeypad%2Dwith%2Dyour%2Dpalm%2Dnow
<a href="http://www.newscientist.com/blogs/onepercent/2011/07/morphing-touchscreen-keyboard.html?DCMP=OTC-rss&amp;nsref=online-news">IBM is working on a keyboard design that will adapt to a user’s finger anatomy.</a> Touchscreen keyboard morphs to fit your typing style. <small>[<a href="http://www.wired.com/images_blogs/gadgetlab/2011/07/Screen-Shot-2011-07-26-at-3.59.18-PM.jpg">Fig. 2</a>] <small>Via: [<a href="http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2011/07/ibms-mighty-morphin-touchscreen-keyboard-tailors-itself-to-your-hands/">Wired</a>] </small></small> Morphing Touchscreen Keyboard Interface <a href="http://www.pat2pdf.org/patents/pat20110157090.pdf">(PDF) [Pat2PDF/IBM]</a> tag:metafilter.com,2011:site.105917Tue, 26 Jul 2011 17:18:49 -0800FizzEngineering Gloriousnesshttp://www.metafilter.com/103076/Engineering%2DGloriousness
<a href="http://clickykeyboards.com/">To the aficianado, a clicky keyboard is the only keyboard.</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buckling_spring"></a>For PC users, nothing is better than an <a href="http://www.pcworld.com/article/147939/inside_the_worlds_greatest_keyboard.html">IBM Model M</a>. For Apple lovers, it never got better than the <a href="http://lowendmac.com/thomas/06/1019.html">Apple Extended Keyboard II</a>. But what makes these keyboards so special? Their key action. The IBM Model M has what is known as "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buckling_spring">buckling spring key switches</a>." The Apple Extended Keyboard II has what is known as "<a href="http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=ALPS+switches">ALPS action switches</a>."
Even though most of these twenty year old designs can still be found on Ebay, <a href="http://www.matias.ca/tactilepro2/">Matias</a> has taken up the manufacture of ALPS action keyboard for Macs and PCs, while <a href="http://pckeyboards.stores.yahoo.net/">Unicomp</a> is still making keyboards based on the specifications of the Model M. (<a href="http://www.metafilter.com/mefi/66196">previously</a>)
(I just switched my Apple Extended Keyboard II to a Matias Tactile Pro; the verdict is still out.)
Bonus:
<a href="http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2008/05/a-tale-of-two-k/">Wired compares the Apple Extended Keyboard II and the IBM Model M.</a>
<a href="http://www.preater.com/modelm/#mozTocId58606">More Model M links.</a>
<a href="http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=5214">Apple's Product Specifications for the Apple Extended Keyboard II.</a> tag:metafilter.com,2011:site.103076Mon, 02 May 2011 08:54:27 -0800whimsicalnymphDvorak's revenge?http://www.metafilter.com/99239/Dvoraks%2Drevenge
<a href="http://www.the8pen.com/">8pen,</a> a replacement for QWERTY on touch devices. (SLYT) tag:metafilter.com,2011:site.99239Wed, 05 Jan 2011 14:38:47 -0800CitoyenKNever tell me the odds.http://www.metafilter.com/98217/Never%2Dtell%2Dme%2Dthe%2Dodds
<a href="http://jmanton.wordpress.com/2010/06/04/measure-theoretic-probability-why-should-it-be-learnt-and-how-to-get-started/">Measure-theoretic probability: Why it should be learnt and how to get started.</a> The <a href="http://www.johndcook.com/distribution_chart.html">clickable chart of distribution relationships.</a> Just two of the interesting and informative probability resources I've learned about, along with countless other tidbits of information, from statistician <a href="http://www.johndcook.com/">John D. Cook</a>'s <a href="http://www.johndcook.com/blog/">blog</a> and his probability fact-of-the-day Twitter feed <a href="http://twitter.com/ProbFact">ProbFact</a>. John also has daily tip and fact Twitter feeds for <a href="http://twitter.com/SansMouse">Windows keyboard shortcuts</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/RegexTip">regular expressions</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/TeXtip">TeX and LaTeX</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/AlgebraFact">algebra and number theory</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/TopologyFact">topology and geometry</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/AnalysisFact">real and complex analysis</a>, and beginning tomorrow, <a href="http://twitter.com/CompSciFact">computer science</a> and <a href="http://twitter.com/StatFact">statistics</a>. tag:metafilter.com,2010:site.98217Sun, 05 Dec 2010 11:15:08 -0800grouseWhat's going on behind those keyshttp://www.metafilter.com/96817/Whats%2Dgoing%2Don%2Dbehind%2Dthose%2Dkeys
We've <a href="http://www.metafilter.com/66196/TYPE-HARD-OR-GO-HOME">previously</a> <a href="http://www.metafilter.com/82664/Inside-the-Worlds-Greatest-Keyboard">discussed</a> the minutiae of computer keyboards, and now <a href="http://www.overclock.net/keyboards/491752-mechanical-keyboard-guide.html">overclock.net</a> has a detailed guide to their innards. tag:metafilter.com,2010:site.96817Tue, 19 Oct 2010 13:41:23 -0800bitmageClack clack clack DINGhttp://www.metafilter.com/92814/Clack%2Dclack%2Dclack%2DDING
<a href="http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/14/usb-typewriter-goes-clackity-clackity-clack-ding-video/">The best iPad accessory ever.</a> tag:metafilter.com,2010:site.92814Mon, 14 Jun 2010 09:59:21 -0800ArtwI've already thought of that jokehttp://www.metafilter.com/92290/Ive%2Dalready%2Dthought%2Dof%2Dthat%2Djoke
Type one-handed on a keyboard virtually "folded up" to be half the size? Pff. With zero training? Double pff. <a href="http://www.half-qwerty.com/demo/">Except it totally works.</a> tag:metafilter.com,2010:site.92290Thu, 27 May 2010 04:54:35 -0800DU